Episodic ozone exposure in Long-Evans rats has limited effects on cauda sperm motility and non-coding RNA populations.

ABSTRACT: Epidemiological evidence suggests the potential for air pollutants to induce male reproductive toxicity. In experimental studies, exposure to ozone during sensitive windows in the sperm lifecycle has been associated with impaired sperm motility. Subsequently, we sought to investigate the effects of episodic exposure to ozone during sperm maturation in the rat. Long-Evans rats were exposed to either filtered air or ozone (0.4 or 0.8 ppm) for five non-consecutive days over two weeks. Ozone exposure did not impact male reproductive organ weights or sperm motility ∼24 hours following the final exposure. Furthermore, circulating sex hormones remained unchanged despite increased T₃ and T₄ in the 0.8 ppm group. While there was indication of altered adrenergic signaling attri

SUBMITTER: Chorley BN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12051041 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature